What better time to reflect on our own Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure engineers? There are approximately 230 staff members in our Engineering Branch, representing four areas of expertise.

Each type of engineer is vital for building and maintaining highways that are safe, reliable and have a minimal impact on the beautiful environments they run through.

So, without further ado, here is an infographic showing the four types of ministry engineers, and their responsibilities:

]]>http://tranbc.ca/2015/03/03/4-types-of-transportation-engineers/feed/0Can You Guess the BC Highway Mountain Pass Word Scramble?http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/24/can-you-guess-the-bc-highway-mountain-pass-word-scramble/
http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/24/can-you-guess-the-bc-highway-mountain-pass-word-scramble/#commentsTue, 24 Feb 2015 19:42:59 +0000http://tranbc.ca/?p=15493Mountain passes have always posed special challenges for engineers and travellers – ever since we started blazing foot trails, carving out wagon roads, and ultimately laying down highways. But while steep grades and fast-changing weather conditions demand extra caution, mountain passes give us access to some of the most beautiful scenery in the province.

There are more than 50 mountain passes in BC, many of them natural landmarks from our favourite road trips. We thought it would be fun (and educational) to test your knowledge of them with a word scramble game, so we scrambled the names of 12 mountain passes and included clues. Answers are at the bottom (but don’t peek until you’re done!).

Let’s start with a softy to warm you up.

aebr
Our avalanche technicians use snowmobiles and skis to access Bear River Ridge for snowpack observations and to repair Bear River Ridge remote access weather station. The weather station is located at 2,000 metres elevation on the west end of this pass.OK – warmed up? Good, because that’s it for the super easy ones. Let’s continue…

icknkig srohe
Crosses the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies on the BC/Alberta border, and is the home of Yoho and Banff national parks.

rtbareyrsw
Webcam Word Clue:

emahnkc
This pass was included in the route used by Alexander Mackenzie on his journey to the Pacific Coast at Bella Coola.

unaignnws
The highway through this Northern BC pass needed repairs when Highway 37 and 37A were hit by major floods in September 2011 (pictured below left).

ewrstoscn
Located near Sparwood, and known as the richest archaeological zone in the Canadian Rockies.

nlsloai
Manning Provincial Park headquarters is situated 9 kilometres east of this pass.

gsoerr
Canadians celebrated the grand opening of the Trans-Canada Highway after the final stretch through this pass was completed in 1962.

ahcloqiaul
Road exit signs with names such as Shylock, Othello, Juliet and Portia give this mountain pass a Shakespearean feel. What’s in a name? Well, a pass by any other name will not be the correct answer.

ohascyo
Royal Engineer James “Sapper” Duffey reported this route to be too steep for wagons after surveying in 1860. Logging roads made the link in the 1970s before the route was chosen for highway extension.

Thanks for playing. Now, how did you do? Check the answers below and click the links for more information about the passes.

Dropping explosives from a helicopter has traditionally been our weapon of choice for triggering controlled avalanches. But some challenging terrain on Yellowhead Highway 16, between Terrace and Prince Rupert, has compelled our avalanche team to try harnessing snow and ice rather than letting it loose.

In fall 2014, crews completed Canada’s second ever avalanche fencing installation at the 35 Mile avalanche area, located 56.4 kilometres west of Terrace (the first installation was completed as part of the Kicking Horse Canyon Project).

So, why install fencing at 35 Mile before one of the other 1,388 avalanche paths above provincial highways?

You may not even notice the 35 Mile avalanche path, which is the most challenging of all 44 avalanche paths between Terrace and Prince Rupert. The 35 Mile avalanche path begins 400 metres above a narrow stretch of two-lane highway, with a steep granite wall on one side and the CN rail line on the other.

CN railway on one side, towering granite wall on the other.

Talk about a tight space.

Removing snow and ice from this section is difficult because of the narrowness of the highway and lack of ditches. There simply isn’t much room for falling snow and ice to go, except pushed further down the highway where space opens up.

The area is also the most demanding location to forecast in the ministry’s Northwest Avalanche Program, which covers:

Highway 16 (Terrace – Prince Rupert).

Highway 113 (Greenville – Kincolith).

Highway 37 north of Meziadin (Snowbank-Ningunsaw).

Highway 51 into Telegraph Creek.

Select areas just south of the Yukon border, including the access road into Cassiar.

Babine Lake Road north of Smithers

Shames Mountain access road near Terrace

The 35 Mile avalanche area causes about 80 per cent of closure time between Terrace and Prince Rupert, and we want a permanent solution to eliminate the need to forecast and to do avalanche control work. The avalanche fencing installation is part of a trial to determine if it is an effective alternative.

How Avalanche Fencing Works

Avalanche fencing stabilizes the snow in the avalanche path start zone throughout winter so the snow can never be released. The start zone is the location where snow in an avalanche path fails and results in additional amounts of snow flowing downslope. As long as snow in the start zone cannot release, there will be no avalanche. The nets are designed to hold the maximum amounts of snow that may accumulate in the start zone. The method of control is referred to as “permanent,” as it is always in place, does not need anyone or anything to initiate it, and represents a permanent solution to the concerns of avalanches. The snow eventually melts when temperatures increase.

Getting It Done

It took 75 hours of flying to transport a 7-person crew and 82 metres of steel mesh fence 325 metres above the highway (in the video, you can spot the helicopter landing pad to the right of the worksite). The crew was flown to the helicopter pad at the beginning of each day from a nearby gravel pit, and flown out again at the end of the day.

That’s quite the commute, eh?

Working on a steep rock face requires a level head and a comprehensive safety regime. All crew members were roped in at all times and trained in rope rescue. Pre-installation rock scaling and tree falling made the area safer for installation activities. The helicopter pilots had approximately 9,000 hours flying time with extensive longline experience.

Descending 35 Mile avalanche path, high above the Skeena River.

The ministry is always looking for ways to improve traveller safety across BC. Successful avalanche fencing will not only protect travellers from falling snow and ice, it will also improve the highway’s reliability. According to the ministry’s Pacific Gateway Branch, CN rail traffic to the Port of Prince Rupert is expected to increase from 12-16 trains to 36-40 trains per day by 2020. Highway traffic is also expected to increase.­­­

The avalanche team is monitoring the Mile 35 avalanche fencing through winter 2014-15. If successful, the ministry will look at doing future avalanche fencing along BC highways.

]]>http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/16/behind-the-scenes-hanging-from-a-rock-face-for-avalanche-safety/feed/5BC RoadTrip Time Machine: The Malahat, circa 1966http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/10/bc-roadtrip-time-machine-the-malahat-circa-1966/
http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/10/bc-roadtrip-time-machine-the-malahat-circa-1966/#commentsTue, 10 Feb 2015 19:33:43 +0000http://tranbc.ca/?p=15454A while back, we posted an invitation to Drive a BC Highway in 15,000 Photos. It was a fast-paced tour of the Coquihalla Highway from 2008 and an introduction to our Photolog program.

That post received some positive reactions, so we thought we’d dig a little deeper and go a whole lot farther back in time. It meant combing through off-site archives and resurrecting some old-school tech, so we could watch and record reels of 16 mm film. And here’s the results from our first session: travelling the Malahat (and the Trans Canada Highway) back in 1966.

The reel itself was about 10 minutes long. It began where you see it in this video and ended outside of Campbell River. That pace was a little too quick for comfortable viewing, so we slowed it down to 30 per cent of its actual speed.

We hope you enjoy this peek into the past, and if you’d like to see more of this kind of content, please leave us a note in the comments below and let us know.

]]>http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/10/bc-roadtrip-time-machine-the-malahat-circa-1966/feed/4What NOT to wear on the Coquihallahttp://tranbc.ca/2015/02/04/what-not-to-wear-on-the-coquihalla/
http://tranbc.ca/2015/02/04/what-not-to-wear-on-the-coquihalla/#commentsWed, 04 Feb 2015 18:05:36 +0000http://tranbc.ca/?p=15420It may be the 21st century, where almost anything goes as far as fashion is concerned…but don’t tell that to the Coquihalla.

As far as this mountain pass is concerned, if you don’t show up for class in proper winter attire, you can prepare to get schooled. You see, mountain passes in B.C. subscribe to the “be prepared” school of fashion and they like to see their guests arrive properly dressed, to say the least. If not, you will get more than a cold shoulder. Trust us.

And DON’T be afraid to try out the latest winter trends on your next road trip.

And then there’s this fellow…

He’s heading to Prince Rupert. It only rains in Prince Rupert, so why would he need winter clothes to get there…right? Wrong.

A big DON’T.

True, Prince Rupert does lie on the coast and “can” be more temperate than other places at the same latitude, but to get there, you will have to pass through proper. winter. weather. And proper winter weather requires proper winter clothes.

DO protect your tender tootsies with proper winter boots and give yourself permission to go wild choosing a scarf (they are the hottest trend for men this year after all).

Save your flip flops for the beach and scorching summer weather.

You can thank us later.

Thinking about what bag to bring?

Don’t limit yourself to a hand held clutch or purse.

Think big!

Think cold!

Sure the purse will hold your lipstick, cards and phone. But those things will do you a fat lot of good if you are unexpectedly waiting for the avalanche gates to raise. Anything can happen out there and it pays to be prepared.

Trust us, a bag that fits blankets, water, food, gloves, a phone charger and a flashlight will look way better on you than a clutch would should an emergency arise. If bags are your “thing” – go on out there, shop to your hearts content and find a perfect fit for your car and leave it there. Done and done!

And the Coquihalla fashion faux pas aren’t limited to the clothes on your back or the bag at your side. Your vehicle could also be subject to scathing scrutiny if the Coquihalla decides to get grumpy. (Gasp – the horror!) Make sure your car has the just right shoes for the occasion (aka winter tires), enough to drink (full tank of gas) and plenty of windshield washer fluid to prevent unsightly buildup on your windshield. There is no excuse for unsightly buildup – tsk! tsk! Your car is a rock star too, taking you to new heights and travelling all over the place for you, doesn’t it deserve some love too?

The Coquihalla has lots to offer – mountains, sunshine and breathtaking vistas to name just a few things. DON’T miss out on the trip because of poor planning. DO show off your mountain ready skills and plan ahead.

You’re driving a two-lane highway after a fresh dumping of snow. You spot the flashing lights of a snow plow up ahead in the left lane. You…

a) Speed up to get ready to pass in the right lane;

b) Maintain speed until you settle in close behind the plow;

c) Flash your high beams until the plow truck pulls over to let you pass;

d) Keep your distance until the plow truck pulls over to allow you to pass.

OK, so this was kind of a rhetorical question. But we’ve placed the answer at the bottom of this post for anyone who needs to confirm.

Snow plow operators are on the roads at all hours in order to make winter driving safer. Clearing snow and laying down deicers and winter abrasives requires the operators to reduce their speed. In order to operate safely, snow plow operators need fellow drivers to be extra cautious around them.

“Don’t be in a big hurry, because these guys are trying to provide a service to the travelling public. We’re not out there to hinder the flow of traffic. We’re out there trying to keep people safe.”

In the name of “Mr. Plows” everywhere (how could Homer Simpson not get a shout-out in this post?), we’ve put together a list of “do’s and don’ts” to keep in mind next time you’re driving near a snow plow.

Do…

… Give snow plows plenty of space – about 10 car lengths. Salt and winter abrasives, as well as rocks and other debris in the snow, can fly – hitting nearby vehicles and decreasing visibility. Tailgating any vehicle puts you at risk of a collision; tailgating a piece of heavy equipment armed with plows only ups the consequences.

Don’t…

… Pass snow plows. It’s not safe. The plow could be equipped with a wing blade on its left or right side, which can be obstructed by the snow it’s throwing. The plow also may be the first of a series of two to four more plows, staggered diagonally across the road to clear all lanes simultaneously. This practice is called Echelon Plowing, and would require the unwise driver to make multiple unsafe passes.

Do…

… Pull as far over to the right as is safe when you see a snow plow approaching from the opposite direction along an undivided highway. That way, you will be clear of any salt or sand.

Don’t…

… Assume the snow plow operator can see you, especially if you’re driving too close and visibility is poor (which it often is in snowstorms). Your best defense is to keep your distance.

Do…

… Give the snow plow operator a wave when they pull over to let you pass. They’re doing the job for you!

Do you have any tips or questions about driving near snow plows? Let us have it in the comments section below.

Quiz Answer: d) Keep your distance until the plow truck pulls over to allow you to pass. (But you knew that, right?)

]]>http://tranbc.ca/2015/01/27/how-to-drive-around-snow-plows-in-bc/feed/59 Reasons to Watch for Wildlife on Westside Road and Beyondhttp://tranbc.ca/2015/01/22/9-reasons-to-watch-for-wildlife-on-westside-road-and-beyond/
http://tranbc.ca/2015/01/22/9-reasons-to-watch-for-wildlife-on-westside-road-and-beyond/#commentsThu, 22 Jan 2015 22:36:08 +0000http://tranbc.ca/?p=15391One of our ministry staff was driving along Westside Road near Kelowna recently and got a bit of a wildlife surprise. Nine bighorn sheep were gathered at the edge of the road, overlooking the lake! Have a look yourself:

Did you know?

Keeping an eye out for wildlife on the highway while you’re driving can prevent hazards to you both. And to help you in your travels, we’ve compiled some handy tips on how you can treat all of B.C.’s wild creatures with care and improve your safety while driving on the highway:

Be extra careful in the early morning, or at dusk and during the night. These times are when animals are most likely to be on the road.

Look ahead into the ditch for movement, or for the reflection of animal eyes in your headlights.

Some animals, especially deer, may panic when they see your headlights and may freeze on the road. If you see an animal, slow down until you are well past.

Moose will often attempt to escape from a vehicle by continuing to run along the road. This may pose a hazard to other drivers. If it is safe to do so, pull over or slow to a very low speed until the animal leaves the road.

Many animals travel in groups. If you see one on the road, slow down – there may be more following.

Slow down! If you are travelling at a slower speed, you will more likely to react in time to prevent a wildlife collision.

Don’t feed wildlife at any time. We need to keep wild animals wild and this is a great place we can start.

Pay attention. If you notice wildlife fencing or overpasses, use your road sense.

Above all, watch for the wildlife warning signs, which are posted at areas where animals are likely to be on the road.

Part of being a responsible driver is being mindful of wildlife on B.C. highways. Be sure to keep these tips in mind next time you head out to cruise the “open” road. If you’re interested in reading about what the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is doing to protect drivers and wildlife, check out these blogs

When it comes to winter driving, cruise control can make you lose control, wherever you are in B.C.

Snow, ice, slush, deep pools of water and even oil on water are slippery. These winter conditions plus snowfall, fog, rain and longer hours of darkness demand your full attention and quick reactions.

The problem with using cruise control in those circumstance, comes when the car in front of you swerves, wildlife steps onto the road, you skid or something else unexpected happens. You might not have the time to cancel cruise control and respond quickly enough. Braking to release the control – especially on a slick spot – can make a bad situation worse.

Another trouble with using cruise control in winter, is that it can work against you.

Here’s how: you set the cruise control at the desired speed and the vehicle is programmed to maintain that speed. When your vehicle slows below the chosen speed, the control feeds more gas to your engine so you accelerate. Speeding up can happen at the wrong time like:

When your front wheels are turning into an icy corner

When going uphill and your tires hit a slick patch

While driving on slippery bridge decks, where the temperature can be colder than the pavement.

In addition, while travelling downhill you may exceed the control’s set speed. And winter is not the time for speeding up! “Drive for the conditions” are the buzzwords of the season, and this means reducing your speed below the posted limit, should your route serve up slippery surfaces, poor visibility, or other challenges.

Even if you start out on a sunny day someplace where the pavement is bare, in winter the story can soon change. And you don’t know exactly what’s ahead (or beneath) you until you get there. A vivid example is Strathcona Parkway, where within 18 kilometres you can move from sunshine into a blizzard.

You, your passengers and others on the road want a safe drive, not slip, slide, glide or hydroplane. So, when you #ShiftintoWinter leave the cruise control alone.

This vehicle feature can be a treat when driving bare, open, mostly flat roads, in good light, from April to September. But never use cruise control in winter, where the place it takes you, could be out of control.

]]>http://tranbc.ca/2015/01/15/lose-the-cruise-control-in-winter/feed/18Apply to be a 2015 EIT or TELP Before February 4, 2015 Deadlinehttp://tranbc.ca/2015/01/12/apply-to-be-a-2015-eit-or-telp-before-february-4-2015-deadline/
http://tranbc.ca/2015/01/12/apply-to-be-a-2015-eit-or-telp-before-february-4-2015-deadline/#commentsMon, 12 Jan 2015 22:18:12 +0000http://tranbc.ca/?p=15364

*UPDATE* The deadline for submitting applications to our TELP program is now February 11, 2015.

It’s ON! Again! The Engineer-in-Training Program (EIT) and Technician-Entry-Level Program (TELP) recruitment has begun again for 2015.

We are hiring for multiple positions in each program, in various locations right across the province. And follow those links below. They lead to a great deal of information , including qualifications, application process, position types, educational streams, profiles and videos of your colleagues and much more.

The EIT job postings will run until February 4, 2015
Learn more: https://search.employment.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/a/highlightjob.cgi?jobid=23343The Engineer in Training Program hires recently gradated engineering students into full-time, permanent positions in our organization and rotates them through various work experiences over a 4-5 year period in order for them to become eligible to apply for an attain professional engineering status. Geo-scientists in Training (GIT) are also in this category.

The TELP job postings will run until February 11, 2015
Learn more: https://search.employment.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/a/highlightjob.cgi?jobid=23346The Technician Entry Level Program hires recently (within 5 years) graduated students into full-time, permanent positions in our organization and pairs them with skilled and experienced staff to build their experience on-the-job over an approximate 2-year time frame.

Many of those that have entered the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure through this competition have grown to become some of our strongest leaders. Are you next?

If you are or know of some bright, enthusiastic, forward thinking new graduates that would be a great fit in our ministry, please pass along these job postings for them to apply.

A roadside expert generously shared his knowledge with us recently, to help drivers #ShiftintoWinter, and keep everyone safer on B.C.’s roads.

Larry Styba rescues vehicles as part of his job as a tow truck operator, trainer and public relations person with Maple Ridge Towing. A WreckMaster Level 6/7 certified towing and recovery operator, Larry sees and hears how people end up in mishaps that require his help.

He also knows what’s needed to drive large vehicles in winter’s most challenging conditions, as he previously was a professional driver for ski group tour buses and Greyhound.

TranBC: Aside from vehicle prep, what can drivers do to be safe in the winter? Obviously, you’re responding to a lot of these incidents, whether people were prepared or not prepared…

Larry: Give yourself plenty of extra time to get to your destination. When the adverse driving weather conditions are existing, you have to adjust your driving to meet those conditions. Slowing down, giving yourself more space in between the car ahead of you can be a factor that keeps you out of the ditch, and definitely you won’t need my services.

I have seen many people drive too fast for the road conditions, and they end up in the ditch. Whether it be wet pavement, snow or ice, the best advice I have is to brake your vehicles in the straight stretches — not in the corner. Because once you get into the corner and you have to use your brakes, the corner has got you.

TranBC: What kind of problems do you respond to in the winter?

Larry: When the snow flies down the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland we get a lot of calls for recoveries, from cars that are fully submerged into water-filled ditches, to people who slide off their driveways just simply by backing out and sliding on the ice.

So we’ve got quite a range of recoveries. Quite often when the snow flies we’re just going from one accident to another trying to keep the roads clear.
In a cold snap, we’ll be prone to do more battery boosts, but believe it or not we actually tow more vehicles for overheating than we would during the summer.

TranBC: The Lower Mainland obviously experiences winter differently from the rest of the province. Do you find drivers not anticipating, not being prepared for when it actually hits them for that few days every year, an issue?

Larry: That’s exactly it. I think they’re used to all of the nice weather the West Coast has, even though we get some rain. A lot of times they’re still speeding through the winter time. Also, add your distracted driving to the mix now, and ice and snow, and definitely the Lower Mainland is a problem area when they see the snow fly for the one or two days that we get it.

Larry: My biggest thing to other employers, is to make sure that your vehicles are winter ready – snow tires just not on your drive wheels but all four wheels. Your employees who are driving your vehicles, if they are displaying bad driving habits that will also reflect on your company, it’s definitely not the public image that you want to have out there for your company.

As a matter of fact, if you are a professional driving firm such as a tow truck company, I believe that our commercial vehicles and our professional drivers should set the example for all other drivers out there.